#64 - Tactics: How Arsenal's left-side dismantled Real Madrid
A tactical look at the historic 3-0 win over Real Madrid, and how Arsenal's changed left-side ensured they dominated the game.
There was a lot of concern about how Arsenal would cope with the Real Madrid attack, and in particular, how Jakub Kiwior, coming in for the injured Gabriel, would bed into the side on such a big occasion.
Mikel Arteta made a few small adjustments to ensure Kiwior had the best surroundings to excel and enable Arsenal’s left side, often ignored compared to the high-functioning right-side, was incredibly effective.
Arsenal, as they often do, but perhaps not as obviously as they did against Madrid, built with a 3-2 shape. Kiwior in the left centre back role, Timber tucking in at right centre and Saliba the orchestrator between the two.
This shape ensured we always had time on the ball at the back, protecting Kiwior somewhat. Mbappe and Vini Jr had to block the ball progressing pivot of MLS - Partey, allowing Arsenal’s back three to dictate the game at their pace.
In this example Arsenal very easily progress from their own box (above) to the half way line (below) under no pressure at all, with Vini Jr and Mbappe remaining on the midfield pivot.
Arsenal then faced the Madrid midfield (flat 4) block. Instead of crowding this central area, Arsenal’s #8’s showed for the ball in wide areas. Odegaard at the top of this picture on the right wing
And Rice in the below example, receiving wide left.
This allows for Arsenal’s biggest goalscoring threats (the wingers) to hold much higher positions and be ready to attack 1 vs 1 situations. It also allows for Rice to use his athleticism to break shapes. Up against Rice on that side of midfield was Modric (39). Rice is always going to win those off the ball running battles and Arsenal setup perfectly to take advantage of Modric’s lack of athleticism.
In the above, you can also see Arsenal’s pivot move beyond the Madrid front two, to be available for a pass inside. Arsenal still retain a numerical advantage of the back three to nullify the counter threat of Madrid’s two.
On a number of occasions when Rice found himself on the left like above, he traded a 1-2 with Lewis-Skelly to get into a goalscoring position (see below).
Merino’s positioning has dragged the centre backs over to the other side of the box and Rice’s explosiveness has created a huge gap where Modric is nowhere near him.
Although Rice’s goals both came from free kicks, the tactical setup in this game allowed him some great openings from open play and I expect to see him score more from these situations moving forward. Lews-Skelly’s embedding / emergence into the inverted left-back role is really beneficial for Declan in the left-8, freeing him up to capitalise on those attacking situations.
The third goal was sublime and highlighted how Arsenal’s confidence grew in the game and they took Madrid apart. Here Timber is higher, so David Raya takes the central centre back position to enable Arsenal to retain the 3-2 build up shape, Saliba sliding right. With impeccable confidence, it is Raya who finds a gap in Madrid’s lazy front-two block, getting Partey on the ball.
Partey then turns with confidence rather than passing backwards. Merino has dropped deep and gets on the ball, he turns and knows Rice will again be in that left-midfield position.
Again, there is a big space for Rice to now use his running power to exploit.
Within a couple of seconds, Arsenal are threatening on the edge of the box and Madrid are out of shape and vulnerable. Trossard is now unmarked on the left, because Valverde has had to tuck in to cover Rice’s run.
15 seconds after David Raya has the ball, Arsenal have progressed it centrally and then left, again using Rice’s running power, to get to a situation where we have SIX Arsenal players in Madrid’s box.
It’s an excellent finish from Merino, but you increase your chances of scoring a lot when you get those numbers in the box and you progress the ball with speed, something we’ve not done enough consistently this season.
Like so often in the game, it was Lewis-Skelly who made the correct pass and was the one to create a big chance. It was stunning to see this teenage player on the biggest stage, play with such bravery and quality.